Beinn Airigh Charr

Rising steeply above the northern shores of Loch Maree, this rugged Corbett offers a wilder alternative to its more famous Torridon neighbours. Its rocky, crag-studded slopes reward hikers with a distinctively remote feel, appearing much more substantial than its sub-3,000ft stature suggests as it looks out over the Letterewe Forest.

• •The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Beinn Àirigh Charr', which translates as 'mountain of the rough shieling'. The term 'àirigh' refers to summer hill pastures, while 'charr' (from 'càrr') suggests a crusty or scabbed surface, likely describing the mountain's fractured, rocky character.
• •The summit provides a world-class perspective on the 'Great Wilderness' of the Letterewe Forest, looking directly across the water to the shattered quartzite screes of the Beinn Eighe massif and the iconic fortress-like profile of Slioch.
• •The mountain is situated within one of the largest roadless areas in the UK; most walkers approach via a long but scenic track from Poolewe through the Kernsary estate, passing through ancient Caledonian pinewoods.
• •Geologically, the hill sits on a foundation of Lewisian gneiss—some of the oldest rock in the world—but features a prominent, pale cap of quartzite near the summit that catches the light and makes it visible from far across Wester Ross.
• •Missing out on Munro status by a mere 34 metres, it remains a quiet sanctuary for those who prefer mountain solitude over the 'bagging' crowds found on the more famous peaks to the south.